For nearly 60 years, St. Jude Medical Center has met the needs of the community, by offering the highest quality care with compassion and respect. We are one of Southern California's most respected and technologically advanced hospitals, and our four core values: dignity, excellence, service and justice are the guiding principles for everything we do. St. Jude is synonymous with exceptional care that extends beyond good medicine to a commitment to caring for you – mind, body and spirit.

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St. Jude Medical Center has proudly served Southern California for over six decades, offering compassionate care of the highest quality. Our staff is composed of nearly 700 physicians who represent every specialty from cancer care to orthopedics. We always strive to set a new standard in quality and care.

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At St. Jude Medical Center, we are proud to serve the healthcare and medical needs of people throughout Southern California. Find out about our specialties by clicking the option above, or search through all of our services by choosing the letter or search to the left.

Today, St. Jude Medical Center’s commitment to excellence is more important than ever—and it is a generous community that makes that commitment possible. But as the medical needs of this community continue to grow, so does the importance of those willing to give to ensure state-of-the-art care. There are many ways you can help. To learn more, please call the St. Jude Memorial Foundation at (714) 992-3033.

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Smoking and Respiratory Diseases

Facts about smoking and respiratory diseases

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), diseases caused by smoking kill more than 480,000 people in the U.S. each year. In fact, smoking is directly responsible for almost 90% of lung cancer and COPD deaths. Even with antismoking campaigns and health warnings, many people continue to smoke or start to smoke every year. About 8% of kids under age 18 are current tobacco users.

What are the risks linked to smoking?

Smokers increase their risk of lung disease, including lung cancer. But they also increase their risk of other illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, and mouth (oral) cancer. Risks from smoking, as they relate to lung disease, include the following:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This includes:

Chronic bronchitis. This is a long-term (chronic) inflammation of the large airways (bronchi). Symptoms include coughing mucus over a long period.

Emphysema. This chronic lung condition affects the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. Symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, fatigue, sleep and heart problems, weight loss, and depression.

Lung cancer. This is an abnormal growth of cells that can result in lumps, masses, or tumors. It may start in the lining of the bronchi, or other areas of the respiratory system. Smoking, including secondhand smoke, is the leading cause of lung cancer. Symptoms of lung cancer include:

Cough

Chest pain

Shortness of breath

Wheezing

Recurring lung infections

Bloody or rust-colored sputum

Hoarseness

Swelling of the neck and face

Pain and weakness in the shoulders, arms, or hands

Unexplained fever

Other cancers. Smoking increases the risk of lung and oral cancer. But it also increases the risk of other respiratory system cancers. These include cancer of the nose, sinuses, voice box, and throat. Smoking also increases the risk of many other cancers of GI (gastrointestinal), urinary, and female reproductive systems.

The symptoms of smoking-related lung diseases may look like other lung conditions or health problems. If you have any symptoms of lung disease, see your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

How dangerous is secondhand smoke?

Secondhand smoke is smoke that is exhaled by smokers and smoke emitted from the burning end of a lit cigarette, cigar, or pipe. It causes more than 7,000 lung cancer deaths each year in people who don’t smoke. It can also lead to lung conditions and heart disease. Symptoms linked to secondhand smoke exposure may include:

Eye, nose, and throat irritation

Coughing

Too much mucus in the airways

Chest discomfort or pain

Children and infants exposed to tobacco smoke are more likely to experience ear infections, and asthma. They are also at a higher risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) than children and infants not exposed to secondhand smoke.

What are the benefits of quitting smoking?

People who quit smoking can actually reverse some of the lung damage. Other benefits of quitting smoking may include the following:

Decreased risk for lung disease

Decreased risk for heart disease

Decreased risk for cancer

Reduced cigarette stains on fingers and teeth

Reduced occurrence of cough

Elimination of stale cigarettes smell on clothing and hair

Improved smell and taste

Saving money by not buying cigarettes

How does cigar smoking affect a person's risk of lung cancer and other types of cancer?

Cigars actually pose the same, if not greater, risk as cigarettes for oral cancer. Although many cigar smokers do not inhale, their risk for oral, throat, and esophageal cancers is the same as for cigarette smokers. Consider these facts from the CDC:

Compared with nonsmokers, cigar smokers who inhale are more likely to develop oral cancer, esophageal cancer, and laryngeal cancer.

Cigar smokers who inhale and smoke 5cigars a day may have a lung cancer risk similar to one-pack-a-day cigarette smokers.

Secondhand smoke from cigars contains toxins and cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) similar to secondhand cigarette smoke, but in higher concentrations.

How do people stop smoking?

Quitting smoking is very difficult. The following tips can help you quit using tobacco products:

Think about why you want to quit. Make a list of the reasons.

Set a quit date.

Try to pick a time when you have as little stress as possible.

Ask for support and encouragement from family, friends, and coworkers.